GREEN Desert’s branch of the mighty Danzig (by Northern Dancer) line is among the most powerful sources of top-class racehorses in Europe. In 2019, the brilliant miler Kingman added his name to the growing list of its stallions who have sired at least one Group 1 winner – his son Persian King won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) – and now that rising star has an exciting son at stud in Ireland.
Calyx was his sire’s first big winner and took high rank among the top two-year-olds of 2018 despite a season that lasted under two weeks. He ran away with a maiden at Newmarket and beat Advertise by a length to take the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
His third start was 11 and a half months later, and he looked set for Group 1 stardom following that four-length score in the Group 3 Merribelle Pavilion Stakes at Ascot. However, he sustained an injury when suffering a shock defeat at the hands of subsequent Group 1 winner Hello Youmzain in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes just over three weeks later. Although it was hoped he would make it back to the track, it proved to be his final race.
Calyx, who ran only over six furlongs, has a strong distaff side to his pedigree too, starting with being the son of Helleborine, a Group 1-placed and Group 3-winning full-sister to the Group 1 Sprint Cup heroine and Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up African Rose (by Observatory).
That star is the dam of the Group 2-placed Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes winner Fair Eva (by Frankel), and although it may sound as though this is a top speed family, the two sisters and their offspring represent emerging sprint branches of a notable middle-distance trunk.
New Orchid (by Quest For Fame), the grandam of Calyx, was third in the Group 3 Lancashire Oaks and her Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes-winning half-brother Distant Music (by Distant View) finished third in the Group 1 Champion Stakes. His full-sister Allego Viva is the dam of the Group 2 Prix Chaudennay scorer Canticum (by Cacique), while their dam Musicanti (by Nijinsky) is a half-sister to the US champion Vanlandingham (by Cox’s Ridge), and that 12-furlong Grade 1 star was out of a half-sister to the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner and US champion Temperence Hill (by Stop The Music).
That pair and Distant Music sired a few stakes winners, notably the triple Grade 1 star Temperate Sil (by Temperence Hill).
Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Termagant (by Powerscourt) and Coaching Club American Oaks heroine Funny Moon (by Malibu Moon) also appear under branches of the fourth generation, as does the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam and Grade 2 Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile Handicap scorer Kirkwall (by Selkirk).
Calyx, Timeform-rated 120p at two and 124 at three, looks likely to get everything from early two-year-olds to classic milers and it’s probable that he may even get some 10-furlong horses with the right mares.
Calyx (GB), Bay 2016. Won three races, £154,958, over 6 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Coventry Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Merriebelle Pavilion Stakes, Ascot, Gr.3, also placed second in Armstrong Sandy Lane Stakes, Haydock Park, Gr.2.
Retires to Stud in 2020.
Stands at: Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Co Tipperary, Ireland.
Contact: Christy Grassick, David O’Loughlin, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Maurice Moloney, Gerry Aherne, Jason Walsh, Tom Miller, Mark Byrne, Neil Magee, or Hermine Bastide
Telephone: +353 (0) 52 6131298
Email: sales@coolmore.ie
Web: www.coolmore.com
Fee: €22,500